Enyimba lose to Shooting Stars in Ibadan

Enyimba Football Club suffered yet another setback, losing 2-0 to Shooting Stars at the Lekan Salami Stadium on Monday.

Much like the case in their previous game on the road – the loss to Rivers United in Port Harcourt exactly a week prior – the People’s Elephant fell two goals down in the first half and could not find a way back afterwards.

Sadiq Abubakar’s close range header in the first minute might have caused the hosts some scare, and when Samuel Kalu forced a save from Detan Ogundare following a flowing team move, Enyimba would have sounded a clear statement of intent.

But for all their attacking threat, the People’s Elephant looked sluggish at the back, giving their opponents freedom to string beautiful patterns in dangerous zones.

It was from one of such loose defending that the hosts grabbed the lead – Moses Omoduemuke tapping into the net when he was quickest to react to Djeri Bassa’s block.

Victor Mbaoma, Emeka Obioma and Sadiq Abubakar had chances to reinstate parity for the hosts, but it was Shooting that seized their moment to double the lead – this time against the run of play – when Emmanuel Lucky benefitted from another defensive collapse to strike beyond a helpless Bassa.

Orok Gabriel and Godwin Emmanuel came on in the second half to provide fresh legs to the Enyimba attack, but Shooting’s well-guarded rear left nothing to chance as Enyimba squandered another chance to climb up the table.